On a sunny Summer morning,
Early as the dew was dry,
Up the hill I went a berrying;
Need I tell you--tell you why?
Farmer Davis had a daughter.
And it happened that I knew,
On each sunny morning, Jenny
Up the hill went berrying too.
Lonely work is picking berries,
So I joined her on the hill:
"Jenny, dear," said I, "your basket's
Quite too large for one to fill."
So we stayed--we two--to fill it,
Jenny talking--I was still.--
Leading where the hill was steepest,
Picking berries up the hill.
"This is up-hill work," said Jenny;
"So is life," said I; "shall we
Climb it each alone, or, Jenny,
Will you come and climb with me?"
Redder than the blushing berries
Jenny's cheek a moment grew,
While without delay she answered,
"I will come and climb with you."
[Illustration: A PERUVIAN BEAUTY.]
8. A ROMANTIC WAY FOR PROPOSING.--In Peru they have a romantic way
of popping the question. The suitor appears on the appointed evening,
with a gaily dressed troubadour under the balcony of his beloved. The
singer steps before her flower-bedecked window, and sings her beauties
in the name of her lover. He compares her size to that of a pear tree,
her lips to two blushing rose-buds, and her womanly form to that of a
dove. With assumed harshness the lady asks her lover: Who are you, and
what do you want? He answers with ardent confidence: "Thy love I do
adore. The stars live in the harmony of love, and why should not we,
too, love each other?" Then the proud beauty gives herself away: she
takes her flower-wreath from her hair and throws it down to her lover,
promising to be his forever.
[Illustration: THE BRIDE.]
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